At the Mountain’s Edge

2019 Reading Challenge Prompt: A book that’s published in 2019: At the Mountain’s Edge by Genevieve Graham

Okay, where to even begin? Originally I had a different book on my list to read for this prompt, but then I realized I could use this book instead! I usually take time to create a list for which book I’ll use for each prompt, but I’m also completely open to spontaneous changes to that list! Yay! And this book was just release this month, April, so it’s still brand-new!!

This book was SUCH a great read!! I read it in about a day and I loved every page of it! I didn’t want it to end; you know the feeling? Historical Fiction is a favourite genre of mine, and I especially love it when I, not only learn something, but am inspired to learn MORE about what I’m reading.

Here’s the jist of the book: Klondike Gold Rush. The Yukon. Single woman moving from Vancouver to Dawson with her parents and brother. An NWMP Constable stationed in the Yukon. Treacherous and unimaginable conditions. Catastrophe. Strength. Courage. Love.

While reading I really did imagine I felt the extreme coldness of the Yukon even though I was tucked in on my couch with a cup of tea. That’s another thing I love about books, you can travel all over without leaving your couch.

What more can I say? You need to read this book for yourself. You’ll learn about the Gold Rush and you’ll be entertained along the way, as well as entering the lives of these characters and feeling invested in their experiences.

Thanks to author Genevieve Graham for the amount of care and detail she puts into her books! She really makes the characters come alive for me, and I love when I can connect in that way.

Red 5 gives this book a 5/5!!

*My progress for the Canadian Book Challenge is 28/13!!

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Persuasion

2019 Reading Challenge Prompt: A book published posthumously: Persuasion by Jane Austen

I think this might be my favourite Austen novel so far. I haven’t read them all yet, so maybe it’s too soon to have a favourite. It’s a story that was long overdue for me to re-read; I’m glad I finally got around to it again! What a lovely story! At times, some of the supporting characters drove me absolutely bonkers with their silliness, but such is the course of our lives too!

“Twenty-seven-year old Anne Elliot is Austen’s most adult heroine. Eight years before the story proper begins, she is happily betrothed to a naval officer, Frederick Wentworth, but she precipitously breaks off the engagement when persuaded by her friend Lady Russell that such a match is unworthy. The breakup produces in Anne a deep and long-lasting regret. When later Wentworth returns from sea a rich and successful captain, he finds Anne’s family on the brink of financial ruin and his own sister a tenant in Kellynch Hall, the Elliot estate. All the tension of the novel revolves around one question: Will Anne and Wentworth be reunited in their love?” (Goodreads)

Red 5 gives this book a 4/5!!

The Book of Beginnings and Endings

2019 Reading Challenge Prompt: A book with no chapters, unusual chapter headings or unconventionally numbered chapters: The Book of Beginnings and Endings by Jenny Boully

This was quite an interesting and unique book. From what I gathered, they’re all just beginnings and endings (no middles) from writer Jenny Boully, taken from things she’s written. I’m still attempting to wrap my mind around this type of concept for a book but it was quite fascinating. I found it somewhat jarring to find myself just getting into the beginning of a story…then the page is turned and it’s the ending of a completely different topic. Numerous times I got confused in the abrupt change of topic, but it sure kept me on my toes! And it’s totally different from anything I’ve ever read!

“A book with only beginnings and endings, all invented. Jenny Boully opens and closes more than fifty topics ranging from physics and astronomy to literary theory and love. A brilliant statement on interruption, impermanence, and imperfection.” (Goodreads)

Red 5 gives this book a 2/5!!

Somewhere to Dream

2019 Reading Challenge Prompt: A book you meant to read in 2018: Somewhere to Dream by Genevieve Graham

“The Cherokee call her Shadow Girl. A white woman adopted by Indians, Adelaide is haunted by the dark dreams she hides—of her murdered family, of the men she fears, and most of all, of the ones that foretell the future. After her visions cause her to make a terrible mistake, she renounces her power and buries her dreams deep in her soul. Until Jesse Black is captured by the tribe. His life is spared because the Cherokee believe his warrior spirit belongs to their fallen brother. Though he hates all Indians, Adelaide illuminates their way of life for him, just as he shines light into her shadowed heart. But when her dreams return, Jesse must help her face them…or die trying…” (Goodreads)

This is book # 3 in The MacDonnell’s series. The genre is historical fiction with some romance. Taking the story back to the character of Adelaide, whom we met in the first book. Seeing her story/experience after the events of the first book. Also, Jesse, her love interest, was not the typical “leading man”/love interest to me, but I found myself appreciating his character as the book progressed.

What a fantastic series!! I really love how it centers around a different main character in each book. I highly recommend this series as Genevieve Graham has created a unique story here. I also loved the author’s note at the end with a personal connection to the author’s family.

Red 5 gives this book a 4/5!!

*My progress for the Canadian Book Challenge is 27/13!!

Salt to the Sea

2019 Reading Challenge Prompt: A book with a title that contains “salt,” “sweet,” “bitter” or “spicy: Salt to the Sea  by Ruta Sepetys

This one was a thrilling read, in the YA fiction genre. The story of three young adults in WWII who end up travelling together and trying to survive. They each come from different places but they need to learn to trust each other in order to survive.

One thing I appreciated was the length of the chapters: they were all super-short which made the read seem to go faster, and we only learned a little bit at a time about each character which kept me engrossed in finding out the answers to my questions about each character. I found the ending slightly abrupt…I guess I wasn’t prepared for it! But it was a really good ending, so I can deal with it.

Red 5 gives this book a 3/5!!

First Frost

2019 Reading Challenge Prompt: A book with a two-word title: First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen

I started reading this only to get the feeling that this was a series book, and I discovered it was book # 2 in the Waverley Family series. This book was gifted to me for my birthday last year. I liked that it was an entertaining diversion but I probably wouldn’t have chosen it on my own. The cover is beautiful, though, which sometimes helps! It’s about two sisters and the special magic that they seem to have.

Have any of you readers read this book or the first in the series?

Red 5 gives this book a 2/5!!

 

Girl At War

2019 Reading Challenge Prompt: A debut novel: Girl at War by Sara Novic

A really great read (actually a listen as it was an audiobook) about a girl’s coming of age during civil war in Yugoslavia in the early 90s. And 10 years later when she’s dealing with all the things she experienced as a child. A powerful book!

I appreciated that the author brought us back and forth, just a little bit, between the past and the present. Jumping back to the past filled in some questions that the reader was wondering about. I found it interesting to read about how Ana had been affected by what she had gone through as a child, and the impact it had on her life ten years later.

This book is the debut novel of Sara Novic, who is an American writer, translator and creative writing professor. She’s also an active deaf rights’ activist who has written about the challenges she’s faced as a deaf author (wikipedia).

Red 5 gives this book a 3/5!!

 

Red 5 gives this book a 3/5!!